2) Using a soft rubber brayer, roll water-soluble block printing ink on the octopus. (I experimented with some new water clean-up oil paints and they worked well also.) Strips of newsprint should be placed under the tentacles during the inking, then removed before the actual printing.
3) Carefully position a sheet of paper (newsprint for the test prints, traditional Japanese paper such as Kinwashi or Gampi for the masterpieces) over the octopus. Press lightly, but firmly, on all parts of the octopus.
4) Pull the print. Later you'll want to paint in their eyes and perhaps add prints of seaweed, but for now celebrate! (After making several prints of this octopus, I cleaned it off and froze it for another printmaking session in the future.)
